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鈥淲e tried to play catch a little bit last week. Had a little setback. Just get checked back in while we鈥檙e here and get to the bottom of it and get back on track,鈥� said Thompson, who was sidelined during the first week of March.

On Friday, the 27-year-old Thompson had a locker inside the Cardinals鈥� clubhouse for the first time this season after he spent the start of the year at the club鈥檚 training complex in Jupiter, Florida. When the left-hander had his spring training paused because of the lat injury, he was said to go at least three-to-four weeks without throwing to allow the injury to calm.

Thompson, who is on the 60-day IL, said he did not throw for roughly 10 1/2 weeks before attempting to throw from about 45 feet last week while at the Cardinals鈥� training complex. Thompson had not thrown beyond 45 feet or off a mound prior to his attempt to throw last week, but had gone through a program that included using weighted balls to rebuild strength.

鈥淲e took the next step into touching a baseball, and it didn鈥檛 go quite as planned, so we just had to slow down a little bit,鈥� Thompson said.

Thompson made one Grapefruit League appearance, which came in the form of a one-inning outing on Feb. 24, before Cardinals president of baseball operations John Mozeliak told reporters of his injury on March 2.

Primarily a reliever during his first big-league season in 2022, the former first round pick from the 2019 MLB Draft entered this past spring training looking to compete for a big-league roster spot after spending the majority of the 2023 and 2024 season in the minors, where he was stretched out to be a starter. He received multiple-inning outings on the backfields before Grapefruit League games began in late February. He had looks in live batting practice against some of the Cardinals鈥� more prominent hitters as he looked to sustain the high velocity he flashed in 2022 that had evaded him in recent seasons.

鈥淚t鈥檚 been a daily battle of just trying to stay where I鈥檓 at today,鈥� Thompson said of the hurdle he鈥檚 faced with the lat injury. 鈥淣ot look too far forward. I think it makes it even harder when you look up and you think about all the things you want to be doing right now. I鈥檓 just trying to stay where my feet are and take it a day at a time.鈥�

Roycroft optioned, Svanson recalled

Ahead of their series opener on Friday vs. the Diamondbacks, the Cardinals optioned right-hander Chris Roycroft to Class AAA Memphis and recalled rookie right-hander Matt Svanson. The moves give the Cardinals bullpen a reliever who can provide flexibility ahead of a stretch where they will play 22 games in a span of 24 days.

鈥淚 want to have as many multiple inning guys during this next stretch as possible,鈥� Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said.

Svanson, a standout in Class AA last season, debuted in the majors on April 17. He rejoins the Cardinals after last pitching in the majors on May 14 in Philadelphia as the 27th player for a doubleheader vs. the Phillies.

鈥淩eliability. You know what you鈥檙e going to get. Sinker-baller. Stays on the ground. Doesn鈥檛 scare,鈥� Marmol said of the 25-year-old Svanson.

鈥淗e鈥檚 developed the ability to throw that slider-sweeper to both sides. Uses the cutter appropriately. He鈥檚 done a nice job during the (limited) times he鈥檚 been with us.鈥�

Svanson has totaled 6 2/3 innings and allowed two runs over five big-league outings. Upon his return to the majors on Friday, Svanson said his first innings in the majors provide a foundation for him in his return, as does his approach on the mound.

鈥淚 try not to really think of that. I think just go out there. It鈥檚 just baseball,鈥� said Svanson, who notched 27 saves in 27 save attempts last season while in Class AA. 鈥淲hether I鈥檓 in Triple-A or up here, I got to get outs. Not give up runs. It鈥檚 really just keeping that mentality of attacking no matter who it is in the box.鈥�

Contreras scratched

The Cardinals scratched Willson Contreras from Friday鈥檚 starting lineup because of a mid-back spasm. The move, which was announced about an hour before first pitch, was said to be precautionary, the Cardinals said.

Contreras was scheduled to start at first base and bat fourth vs. Arizona. He was replaced at first base by Alec Burleson, who was originally scheduled to start in right field. Nolan Gorman moved into the starting lineup with a start at second base while Brendan Donovan shifted from second base to left field and Lars Nootbaar moved from left field to right field.